Annex 14 - Progress Report of the Secretary-General on the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda

Notes on the Contributors

Abbreviations

Annex 13 - Lisbon Declaration (excerpts)

WEU Council of Ministers, Lisbon, 15th May 1995

1. Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of the WEU nations
gathered in Lisbon on 15th May 1995. They warmly welcomed the accession of
Greece to WEU as a full member and the consequent entry into force of the
Associate Members' status and the Associate Partners' status, as well as the
fact that Austria, Finland and Sweden became Observers following their accession
to the European Union.

2. Ministers recalled that the construction of an integrated
Europe will remain incomplete as long as it does not include security and
defence. They also recalled the role of WEU as defence component of the EU and
as a means to strengthen the European pillar of the Atlantic Alliance and the
priority which they therefore attached to the development of its operational
capabilities. They recalled that, in the Petersberg declaration, preparedness
was expressed to deploy WEU military units for humanitarian and rescue tasks,
peace-keeping tasks, and tasks of combat forces in crisis-management. They
reaffirmed their resolve to work, on the basis of the preliminary conclusions
adopted in Noordwijk on the formulation of a common European defence policy, to
ensure that this policy can effectively take shape in the years ahead. Ministers
expressed their appreciation of the significant progress made by WEU since their
last meeting and discussed in particular the following issues:

1. WEU development

(a) Operational development

1. Ministers examined the implementation of their previous
decisions, in particular those taken at their Petersberg, Kirchherg and
Noordwijk meetings, regarding the development of WEU operational capabilities.
They approved a decision which, inter alia:

- provides WEU with new decision-making mechanisms and
structures, in particular the establishment of a new politico-military group in
support of the Council, a Situation Centre, and an Intelligence Section in the
Planning Cell;

- refines procedures and objectives for the identification of
Forces Answerable to WEU;

- provides WEU with preliminary conclusions and transitional
arrangements for the financing of WEU operations.

Ministers underlined the need to gain practical experience of
the provisions contained in this decision through appropriate exercises. In this
context they welcomed the intentions expressed by Portugal to organise an
exercise. They also welcomed the agreement reached by the member states of the
Eurocorps to carry out the exercise WEU crisis 95-96, within the framework of
the Petersberg declaration, and took note of the decision to propose this
exercise to the Council in order to verify the procedures established in the
relevant operational documents of the organisation.

2. Ministers welcomed the progress made in WEU in identifying
those assets and capabilities that WEU will need in its future operations, as
well as in defining its views on the mechanisms and procedures for the use of
such assets and capabilities which the alliance could make available to WEU.

3. Ministers welcomed the presentation of a report of the
Secretary-General on the reinforcement of the Secretariat in the
politico-military, field, which will constitute the basis for decisions to be
taken by the Permanent Council before the next Ministerial Council, allowing for
the reinforcement to begin by January 1996.

4. Ministers welcomed the decision of France, Italy and Spain to
organise a land force (EUROFOR) and a maritime force (EUROMARFOR). They noted
that these forces will be open to WEU member states. In this context, they
welcomed the agreements reached on the participation of Portugal in EUROFOR and
EUROMARFOR since their establishment. They also noted that these forces would be
declared "forces answerable to WEU", that they would be employed as a priority
in this framework, that they could likewise be employed in the framework of
NATO, so as to strengthen the European pillar of the alliance, and that the
fulfilment of their missions will not prejudice the participation of their units
in the common defence missions provided for by Article V of the modified
Brussels Treaty, and Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. Ministers believe that
these initiatives will contribute to the development of the European security
and defence identity and strengthen Europe's own military capabilities for
operations conducted pursuant to the Petersberg declaration.

5. Ministers tasked the Permanent Council, on the initiative of
the participating states, to detail the relations between WEU and these forces,
together with the conditions for their use in the WEU framework.

6. As a follow-up to the decision taken at their last meeting in
Noordwijk, Ministers endorsed a document on "emergency responses to humanitarian
crises: a role for a WEU humanitarian task force". The document, based on an
Italian/United Kingdom proposal on the principles and modalities for
establishing a WEU humanitarian task force and on the use of military assets in
humanitarian crises, is fully consistent with the above decision in paragraph 3.
They tasked the Permanent Council to complete the work on this subject as a
matter of priority and requested the Planning Cell to take forward as a matter
of urgency its generic planning in this area.

7. Ministers also marked their interest in the initiative by
France and the United Kingdom on peace-keeping and conflict-prevention in
Africa. In this connection, they welcomed the preliminary reflections taking
place in WEU in parallel with the discussions within the European Union and
against the background of the debate in progress at the United Nations; they
instructed the Permanent Council to take forward its reflections on this
subject.

8. Ministers also examined progress made in the field of WEU
space activities. They approved a decision on the establishment of the Satellite
Centre as a permanent WEU body. They also approved a decision tasking the Space
Group to continue its activities, concentrating on the study of the three
proposed approaches to developing WEU's capability to use satellite imagery for
security purposes, namely the establishment of a WEU satellite system,
participation in a developing multinational programme or procurement of imagery
with the aim of presenting a proposal to their autumn 1995 ministerial meeting.

9. Ministers took note of the report by the presidency on the
Chiefs of Defence Staff meeting held on 20th April 1995 in Lisbon.

10. Ministers took note of documents on WEU's role in evacuation
operations", "generic planning, and intelligence support to the Planning Cell:
short-term measures. They considered these documents as a significant
contribution to the implementation of their decisions on the development of WEU
operational capabilities.

11. They looked forward to the conclusion of the work on other
operational aspects identified in the preliminary conclusions on the formulation
of a common European defence policy, approved in Noordwijk.

12. Ministers took note with appreciation of the reports on the
Portuguese Presidency's missions to Mostar and the Danube and welcomed the
recent visit to Mostar of the presidency's Foreign Minister, Mr. Durao Barroso.
They also noted with great interest the information provided to the Council by
the EU Administrator for Mostar, Mr. Koschnick.

13. Ministers reiterated the importance they attach to the WEU
contribution to the EU Mostar administration, and to the Danube and Sharp Guard
operations, which are visible expressions of WEU's commitment to European
security. They expressed their appreciation and gratitude to all those
participating in these operations and thus contributing to their success.

14. Ministers welcomed the agreement between the parties
concerned on the implementation of the first phase of the establishment of a
unified police force of Mostar (UPFM) and regarding the structure of the future
UPFM. They believe that these important steps should lead to the implementation
of the UPFM. Ministers agreed to continue to encourage the parties, in
particular via the presidency, to secure agreement to the subsequent
implementation phases and the establishment of the UPFM. Ministers welcomed the
forthcoming participation of Austria, Finland and Sweden in the WEU police
element, in addition to the contributions provided by the member states.

15. Ministers welcomed the successful results accomplished by
the WEU police and customs mission on the Danube, which contribute to the full
implementation of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

16. They also expressed their satisfaction at the continued
positive results achieved in the joint WEU-NATO Operation Sharp Guard in the
Adriatic.

(b) Common reflection on new European security conditions

1. Ministers welcomed progress achieved on the common reflection
on the new European security conditions. They emphasised the importance of the
fact that, for the first time, such an exercise is taking place among the 27 WEU
nations. They approved a document which indentifies their common interests, as
well as potential risks to European security. This analysis will be further
reviewed in the light of the second phase of the exercise.

2. Ministers noted that, in the second phase, WEU countries will
examine how to enhance and strengthen their common security through possible
responses to the potential risks already identified. They asked the Permanent
Council to submit at their next meeting the final results of the exercise along
the lines of paragraph 6 of the Noordwijk declaration with a view to a decision
on the publication of a white paper on European security.

3. Ministers welcomed the French initiative concerning the
organisation in autumn 1995 of a European session to reflect on a European
security policy, which will bring together representatives of the 27 WEU
nations.

(c) Other questions

1. Ministers welcomed the Permanent Council decision on the
implementation of the Associate Partners' status which will allow for the
extension of their participation in WEU working groups, for the conclus~on of
ha~son arrangements between them and the Planning Cell, as well as for the
identification of their forces which may be made available for WEU operations.
They welcomed the progress already achieved on the identification of forces and
looked forward to the full and rapid implementation of the above mentioned
measures.

2. Ministers underlined the importance they attach to the role
played by the Assembly in the debate on security and defence in Europe and its
substantive contribution to the wider consideration of these issues. They
welcomed the regular and constructive dialogue between the Council and the
Assembly.

3. Ministers welcomed the Permanent Council decision on the
gradual transformation of the Institute for Security Studies into an Academy.

4. Ministers welcomed the signature of the WEU security
agreement on 28th March 1995.

2. Relations with the European Union

1. Ministers had an exchange of views on the relations between
WEU and the European Union. They stressed the importance of developing further
this relationship for the future of the two organisations and for European
security as a whole.

2. Ministers recalled their decision in Noordwijk last November
that WEU should make a timely contribution to the work of the 1996 EU
intergovernmental conference (IGC). Ministers held a first exchange of views on
this contribution, which will re-examine and further develop the role of WEU and
the provisions agreed at Maastricht, taking account of the progress made and
experience acquired since the WEU Maastricht declaration of December 1991 and
the entry into force of the Treaty on European Union.

3. Ministers tasked the Permanent Council to present a report at
their next meeting in November in Madrid. In this respect, they welcomed the
intention of the incoming Spanish Presidency to present a reflection document on
the WEU contribution to the IGC to serve as the basis of the Permanent Council's
report. They noted that the possibility of holding a meeting at summit level to
finalise the WEU contribution to the IGC continues to be considered.

4 In this context, Ministers welcomed as significant
contributions to the forthcoming debate the presentation of the proposals made
by the British Prime Minister, of the Netherlands Government memorandum and of
other national positions. These, together with the ongoing work in the European
Union started under the French Presidency, would be important inputs to this
debate.

5. Ministers welcomed the initiative of the Portuguese
Presidency to organise a seminar in Sintra on 3rd and 4th June on the WEU
contribution to the future European security and defence architecture.

6. Ministers noted with satisfaction that measures to develop a
close working relationship between WEU and KU, foreseen in the Treaty on
European Union, were now being given practical effect. They particularly
welcomed the close co-operation between the EU and WEU Presidencies regarding
the EU administration in Mostar including the WEU police deployment, the first
occasion when WEU, in carrying out an operation, is implementing a decision of
the Union. In this context they also welcomed the fact that, for the first time,
the WEU and EU Presidencies had carried out a joint demarche which contributed
to the successful agreement to the first phase of the unified police force
Mostar (UPFM).

7. Ministers noted with appreciation co-operation between WEU
and EU in the framework of the informal group of government experts of WEU/WEAG
and EU member states to study options for a European armaments policy. They
noted that all items of the agreed programme of work have already been covered.
They looked forward to the report being finalised shortly.

8. Ministers welcomed the first meeting of the WEU Presidency,
the Secretariat and the Planning Cell with the EU Troika of Consular Affairs'
experts on WEU's role in evacuation operations. They tasked the Permanent
Council to ensure that the work on this subject is continued in close
co-ordination with the relevant EU bodies.

3. Relations with NATO

9. Ministers welcomed the decisions taken recently by both the
WEU Council and the North Atlantic Council, regarding the co-operation between
both organisations and noted with appreciation that they are already under
implementation. These decisions represented a further step in the development of
working links between WEU and the alliance, including joint councils and
co-operation between secretariats.

10. Ministers stressed the importance, for future co-operation
between WEU and NATO, of the progress made in WEU in identifying those assets
and capabilities that WEU will need in its future operations, as well as in
defining its views on the mechanisms and procedures for the use of assets and
capabilities which the alliance could make available to WEU. They stressed the
importance of NATO comments for pursuing joint work in this field. They also
invite NATO to work with WEU to develop a list of assets and capabilities that
could be made available. Ministers recalled the importance they attach to WEU
having an effective intelligence handling facility and to the conclusion of the
discussions in this field with NATO.

11. Ministers welcomed the continuing co-operation and the
institutional dialogue between WEU and NATO to develop further the CJTF concept,
including joint meetings of the WEU Politico-Military Working Group and NATO's
Provisional Policy Co-ordination Group and attendance of the Planning Cell and
cross-representation of secretariats in the meetings of those groups.

12. These are all significant developments which illustrate the
new level of mutually reinforcing co-operation reached in WEU-NATO relatin
s.